Shakespeare's Robin Hood: Or a Funny Thing Happened On My Way Through Stratford Forest

By Larry Epstein

We all know the legend of Robin Hood: robbed from the rich, gave to the poor, loved Maid Marian, and, with his band of Merry Men, battled the evil Prince John and his Sheriff in medieval England. In this play we learn that William Shakespeare is the author of Robin Hood's legend and that he has written himself a starring part in it. In the play Shakespeare befriends Robin Hood and persuades him to take up the cause of the oppressed peasants of Stratford-upon-Avon. Everyone falls in love with the fair Maid Marian, Shakespeare's niece and muse, including both Robin Hood and the evil Prince John. When Marian rejects Prince John, he throws her into the dungeon after where she is in the clutches of a couple of insane, musical dungeon keepers. There she meets the ladies of Stratford-upon-Avon (i.e., the "Avon" ladies) and a brilliantly hilarious court jester, who soften Marian's hard time. Of course there are the rotund Friar Tuck, gentle giant Little John, licentious Will Scarlett and the quaint townsfolk of Stratford-upon-Avon who share many a cup of mead. Ultimately Marian, her "Uncle William" and Robin's band of merry men and women save the Kingdom with a little help from the true ruler, King Richard the Lionheart. Helping to make this Shakespeare's Robin Hood, the script artfully weaves into it some 90 quotes from works by the Bard. But even so, the play flows and sparkles with modern humor, wit and song. So join Shakespeare, his niece and our heroes, villains and townsfolk as they ride through the quaint English forest --- with occasional breaks for drinks, songs and mirth --- to a thrilling conclusion. The script is fully annotated with lyrics, stage directions, prop lists, role characterizations and other tools to help any ambitious community theater troupe turn this vision of not-quite-Shakespeare into reality. The play has 15 principal actors and up to 25 additional parts, and is ideally produced with a live minstrel band of Renaissance-period instruments. Come join us now in jolly ol' England...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1507786743
• ISBN13: 9781507786741
• Release Date: February 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"